PEACOCK
Lake County
July 25, 1924: "Fire service was doubled with the completion last week of the second of three lookout towers located on the highest point of the Wolf Lake hills, south of Peacock and installation of John Sharp as lookout.
This tower stands on one of the highest points in the county and commands a tremendous range of observation. The territory includes several swamps, a large range of railway territory where fires spring most frequently, considerable lake and river territory used by campers, and some of the best pine remaining in this section. The tower is connected by telephone with both the Baldwin and Luther fire chiefs, and also has access to the minute men in the surrounding territory. There is much valuable territory to be protected and the location meets general approval.
This first year of trial of the tower system has vindicated the policy. Thus far there have been 103 fires reported, all of them dangerous if neglected, but none has burned to exceed half a day and the average for the whole is four acres, or a trifle over 400 acres for the season. On one fire reported last week, eleven miles from Warden Vandenberge's home, the crew were in action at the fire in 20 minutes from the time when the fire was sighted." (Lake County Star)
This tower stands on one of the highest points in the county and commands a tremendous range of observation. The territory includes several swamps, a large range of railway territory where fires spring most frequently, considerable lake and river territory used by campers, and some of the best pine remaining in this section. The tower is connected by telephone with both the Baldwin and Luther fire chiefs, and also has access to the minute men in the surrounding territory. There is much valuable territory to be protected and the location meets general approval.
This first year of trial of the tower system has vindicated the policy. Thus far there have been 103 fires reported, all of them dangerous if neglected, but none has burned to exceed half a day and the average for the whole is four acres, or a trifle over 400 acres for the season. On one fire reported last week, eleven miles from Warden Vandenberge's home, the crew were in action at the fire in 20 minutes from the time when the fire was sighted." (Lake County Star)
June 28, 1929: "Cyril Sharp, lookout on the Peacock fire tower, was phoning to Louie Duffing of the Baldwin tower the other day when he suddenly broke off with an exclamation. A few moments later he called again and told Lew a full grown black bear had just strolled leisurely down the path from his house to the tower, sniffed around and ambled off into the woods. He was fat, too, and his hide getting as sleek as silk." (Lake County Star)
July 7, 1932: "Cyril Sharp, towerman at the Peacock fire tower, was in town Wednesday, having been released from his duties for a few hours by the rain." (Osceola County Herald)
August 24, 1934: "Leaving a campfire unquenched in Michigan, two Marion, O., men have learned, may prove costly.
Paul Moreland, age 37, and H. Schrader, 42, built a fire while in Lake county and left it burning, it is charged. According to reports the fire spread until sighted by the Peacock towerman. The two men were taken into custody, pleaded guilty to leaving a campfire unquenched and paid costs of $9.80 each, including the cost of suppressing the fire." (Clare Sentinel)